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Before the Deluge poster

Before the Deluge

Avant le déluge

1954 · 2h 18m · Drama · France, Italy

The title of this French "reality" drama, which translates to Before the Deluge, is a play on Louis XVI's famous prognostication, "Apres moi, le deluge." Set in 1950, the film concentrates on five Parisian adolescents. Certain that the next war will herald the apocalypse, the youngster make plans to run off to a desert island and set up a new society. This, however, will require money, which is why the boys decide to pull off a "necessary" robbery. Idealism collapses in the face of cold reality, as the five youths suffer from the consequences of their actions. Avant le Deluge was one of a group of films cowritten by director Andre Cayatte and Charles Spaak which endeavored to explore the touchy social issues of the day: others in the Cayatte-Spaak canon include the euthanasia-themed Justice est Faite and the capital-punishment tract Nous sommes tous des assassins.

Directed by
André Cayatte
Written by
Charles Spaak, André Cayatte
Starring
Antoine Balpêtré, Paul Bisciglia, Bernard Blier, Marina Vlady
6.1Smart score

The TMDB rating, pulled toward the movie average (6.03) as if it had 82 extra average votes. Few votes means more pull.

TMDB6.6

11 TMDB votes · IMDb page

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Not available to stream, rent or buy in United States.

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Amazon Video: available in 2 countries
Rent or buy · 2France, Japan

Streaming data by JustWatch, via TMDB. Links open the JustWatch listing for United States.

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Connected through the crew

The Longest Day1962 · Cinematographer Jean BourgoinGrand Illusion1937 · Writer Charles SpaakMon Oncle1958 · Cinematographer Jean BourgoinBlack Orpheus1959 · Cinematographer Jean BourgoinCartouche1962 · Writer Charles SpaakMr. Arkadin1955 · Cinematographer Jean BourgoinPanic1947 · Writer Charles SpaakThe Lower Depths1936 · Writer Charles SpaakLa Belle Équipe1936 · Writer Charles SpaakThe Counterfeit Traitor1962 · Cinematographer Jean BourgoinCarnival in Flanders1935 · Writer Charles SpaakTo Die of Love1971 · Director André Cayatte, Writer André Cayatte

Browse lists

Best Drama Movies of the 1950sBest Drama Movies of All Time